[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 41, Number 34 (Monday, August 29, 2005)]
[Pages 1299-1305]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks on the War on Terror in Nampa, Idaho

August 24, 2005

    Thank you all. Thank you all very much. Thanks for the warm welcome. 
Glad I finally got here. You got a beautiful State full of really decent 
people. And Laura and I are thrilled to be here. I'm particularly 
thrilled to be with the courageous men and women who wear our Nation's 
uniform. I'm honored to stand with the brave men and women of the Idaho 
National Guard.
    I don't know if you know this or not, but 19 individuals have served 
both as Guardsmen and as President of the United States, and I'm proud 
to have been one. In times of crisis, our Nation depends on the courage 
and determination of the Guard. You know that the call to active duty 
can come at anytime. You stand ready to put your lives on hold and 
answer that call, and you do so because you love your State and your 
country. America appreciates your courageous decision to serve, and we 
appreciate your families and employers who support you in your vital 
work. Together with your comrades in the Army, Navy, Air Force, and 
Marine Reserves, you're showing that patriotism and public service are 
alive and well in Idaho and throughout the United States of America. 
[Applause] Thank you all.
    I'm also proud to be here with the Gunfighters of Mountain Home Air 
Force Base. After our Nation was attacked on September

[[Page 1300]]

the 11th, 2001, air crews from the 366th Wing flew more than 1,000 
combat missions over the skies of Afghanistan. In the war on terror, 
you're bringing justice to our enemies and honor to the uniform, and our 
country is grateful to your service.
    You can see, coming in here, I'm keeping pretty good company. 
[Laughter] I'm proud to be traveling today with a great wife, wonderful 
mother, Laura Bush. She said, ``When you get in there, keep your speech 
short.'' [Laughter] I said, ``I hadn't been to Idaho yet as President, 
how can I keep my speech short?'' Anyway, I'm listening to her. 
[Laughter]
    I'm proud to be here with your Governor, Dirk Kempthorne, and his 
wife, Patricia. He's a really fine man and a great Governor for Idaho.
    Last night we spent the night in Tamarack. I want to thank the good 
folks of Tamarack for their wonderful hospitality, and thanks for 
putting up with us and the entourage. [Laughter] But we invited the 
congressional delegation from your great State to join us for dinner, 
and so we were honored to have the likes of Senator Larry Craig and 
Suzanne join us for dinner. Senator Mike Crapo, Congressman Butch Otter, 
and Congressman Mike Simpson and his wife, Kathy, are with us today. 
Thank you, Mike.
    I found it particularly interesting that Larry Craig's mom, Dorothy, 
is with us, and Butch Otter's mom, Regina, is with us. I guess it's 
``mothers bring their boys to work day.'' [Laughter]
    I want to thank all the members of the statehouse who are here. I 
appreciate you being here. Thanks for serving your State. I want to 
thank Mayor Tom Dale of Nampa. I appreciate you, Mr. Mayor. Mr. Mayor, 
thanks. He didn't ask for any advice, but I'll give you some anyway--
fill the potholes. [Laughter] I want to thank Mayor David Bieter of the 
city of Boise for joining us. Mr. Mayor, thank you. Thanks for your 
hospitality. Appreciate you being here.
    I want to thank Generals Blum, Lafrenz, Sayler for their service to 
our country. Thanks for greeting me when I came in today. I'm proud of 
your service. Colonel Charlie Shugg, commander of the 366th, is with us. 
Colonel, thank you for being here.
    But most of all, thank you all for coming. I appreciate you taking 
time out of your Wednesday morning to say hello.
    Our Nation is engaged in a global war on terror that affects the 
safety and security of every American. In Iraq, Afghanistan, and across 
the world, we face dangerous enemies who want to harm our people, folks 
who want to destroy our way of life. And throughout our Nation's 
history, whenever freedom has been threatened, America has turned to the 
National Guard. From the War of Independence to today's war on terror, 
the Guard has defended this country with courage and determination. I'm 
proud to be the Commander in Chief, and I respect and honor all those 
who serve in the United States Armed Forces Active Guard and Reserve.
    The role of the Guard in our military is unique. You're the only 
part of the Armed Forces that serves both your State and your country. 
Here in Idaho, there's 4,300 soldiers and airmen of the Guard who are 
meeting their State and Federal responsibilities with distinction and 
with courage. The Idaho Guard has been called up to provide disaster 
relief eight times in the past decade. You've helped your fellow 
citizens through fires and floods and snow emergencies. The people of 
this State take comfort knowing you're on call. And when tragedy 
strikes, they know they can count on the men and women of the Guard. And 
as you protect your neighbors from national disasters--natural 
disasters, you're also helping to protect all Americans from terrorist 
threats.
    A special WMD response team in the Idaho Guard is based in Gowen 
Field. These good folks are ready to mobilize within hours, in the case 
of a terrorist attack. You're not only protecting the American homeland, 
you're also taking the fight to the enemy.
    Since September the 11th, 2001, more than 243,000 members of the 
National Guard have been mobilized for various missions in the war on 
terror. Idaho now has a higher percentage of its Guard forces mobilized 
than any other State. At this moment, more than 1,700 soldiers of the 
Idaho Guard are serving in Iraq. It's the largest Guard mobilization in 
the history of Idaho. Laura and I are here to thank you for your service 
and

[[Page 1301]]

your courage in defending the United States of America.
    A time of war is a time of sacrifice, and a heavy burden falls on 
our military families. They miss you, and they worry about you. By 
standing behind you, you're standing up for America--the families are 
standing for America. And America appreciates the service and the 
sacrifice of the military families.
    There are few things in life more difficult than seeing a loved one 
go off to war. And here in Idaho, a mom named Tammy Pruett --
[applause]--I think she's here--[laughter]--knows that feeling six times 
over. Tammy has four sons serving in Iraq right now with the Idaho 
National Guard, Eric, Evan, Greg, and Jeff. Last year, her husband, 
Leon, and another son, Eren, returned from Iraq, where they helped train 
Iraqi firefighters in Mosul. Tammy says this--and I want you to hear 
this--``I know that if something happens to one of the boys, they would 
leave this world doing what they believe, what they think is right for 
our country. And I guess you couldn't ask for a better way of life than 
giving it for something that you believe in.'' America lives in freedom 
because of families like the Pruetts.
    Our Nation depends on our Guard families, and we depend on the 
understanding and support of the employers of our Guard men and women. 
Your service would not be possible without the employers--without the 
help of the employers. In offices and schools and factories across 
Idaho, your colleagues do without your talents so that you can serve our 
Nation. Businesses are putting patriotism ahead of profit because they 
know that our prosperity and way of life depend on the freedom you 
defend. Guard employers are serving this Nation, and they have the 
gratitude of all Americans.
    In this time of call-ups and alerts and mobilizations and 
deployments, your employers are standing behind you, and so is your 
Government. The country owes you something in return for your sacrifice. 
We've taken a number of steps to improve the call-up process so it's 
more respectful of you and your families. In most cases, we're now 
giving you at least 30-days notification before you mobilize so that you 
and your families have time to make arrangements.
    We're working to give you as much certainty as possible about the 
length of your mobilization, so you can know when you're able to resume 
civilian life. We're working to minimize the number of extensions and 
repeat mobilizations. We're working to ensure that you and your families 
are treated with the dignity you deserve.
    We're also taking steps to improve the quality of life. We've 
expanded health care benefits for Guard and Reserve forces and their 
families, giving you access to the military's TRICARE system for up to 
90 days before you report and 180 days after deactivation.
    We're also expanding access to education for those who serve as 
citizen soldiers. Last year, I was proud to sign legislation providing 
our Guard and Reserve forces between 40 to 80 percent of the education 
benefit available to active duty forces, depending on the length of 
their mobilization in the war on terror.
    We've also tripled the amount that can be paid for re-enlisting in 
the Guard and Reserve. I've asked Congress to authorize a new retention 
bonus for Guardsmen and Reservists with critical skills. What I'm 
telling you is this: We understand that as the Guardsmen and Reservists 
stand up for America, this administration and the Government of the 
United States will stand with the Guard and Reserves people.
    Your service is needed in these dangerous times. We remain a nation 
at war. The war reached our shores on September the 11th, 2001, when 
terrorists murdered nearly 3,000 of our citizens. And since then, 
they've continued to kill in Madrid, in Istanbul, in Jakarta, 
Casablanca, Riyadh, Bali, Baghdad, London, Sharm el-Sheikh, and 
elsewhere. Our enemies murder because they despise our freedom and our 
way of life. We believe in human rights and the human dignity of every 
man, woman, and child on this Earth. The terrorists believe that all 
human life is expendable. They share a hateful ideology that rejects 
tolerance and crushes all dissent. They envision a world where women are 
beaten, children are indoctrinated, and all

[[Page 1302]]

who reject our [their] * ideology of violence and extremism are 
murdered.
    * White House correction.
    During the last few decades, the terrorists grew to believe that if 
they hit America hard, as in Lebanon and Somalia, America would retreat 
and back down. Before September the 11th, Usama bin Laden said that an 
attack could make America run in less than 24 hours. So now they're 
trying to break our will with acts of violence. They'll kill women and 
children, knowing that the images of their brutality will horrify 
civilized people. Their goal is to force us to retreat. See, they have a 
strategy. They want us to retreat so they can topple governments in the 
Middle East and turn that region into a safe haven for terrorism.
    We saw the terrible harm the terrorists did when they took effective 
control of the failed state of Afghanistan. After all, it was there that 
they trained and plotted and planned the attack that killed thousands of 
our citizens. We will not allow the terrorists to establish new places 
of refuge in failed states from which they can recruit and train and 
plan new attacks on our citizens.
    On September the 11th, 2001, we saw the future that the terrorists 
intend for our country and the lengths they're willing to go to achieve 
their aims. We faced a clear choice. We could hunker down, retreating 
behind a false sense of security, or we could bring the war to the 
terrorists, striking them before they could kill more of our people.
    I made a decision. America will not wait to be attacked again. Our 
doctrine is clear: We will confront emerging threats before they fully 
materialize, and if you harbor a terrorist, you're just as guilty as the 
terrorist.
    We will stay on the offense. We'll complete our work in Afghanistan 
and Iraq. An immediate withdrawal of our troops in Iraq or the broader 
Middle East, as some have called for, would only embolden the terrorists 
and create a staging ground to launch more attacks against America and 
free nations. So long as I'm the President, we will stay, we will fight, 
and we will win the war on terror. [Applause] Thank you all.
    Since September the 11th, we've followed a clear strategy to defeat 
the terrorists and protect our people. First, we are defending the 
homeland. We've strengthened our intelligence capabilities. We've 
trained more than 800,000 first-responders. We have taken critical steps 
to protect our cities and borders and infrastructure. We have taken the 
fight to the enemy in our midst. We've disrupted terrorist cells and 
financing networks in California and Oregon and Illinois and New Jersey 
and Virginia and other States.
    This is a different kind of war. Today's enemies do not mass armies 
on borders or navies on high seas. They blend in with the civilian 
population. They emerge to strike, and then they retreat back into the 
shadows. And that's why there are thousands of our fellow citizens 
running down every single piece of intelligence we can find, doing 
everything we can to disrupt folks that might be here in America trying 
to hurt you.
    The second part of our strategy is this--and it's based upon this 
fact: In an open society like ours--and we will keep it open, and we 
will keep it free--it is impossible to protect against every threat. 
That's a fact we have to deal with. In a free society, it is impossible 
to protect against every possible threat. And so the only way to defend 
our citizens where we live is to go after the terrorists where they 
live.
    When the terrorists spend their days and nights struggling to avoid 
death or capture, they are less capable of arming and training and 
plotting new attacks on America and the rest of the civilized world. So 
we're after the enemy across the globe. And we're determined, and we're 
relentless, and we will stay on the hunt until the terrorists have 
nowhere to run and nowhere to hide.
    And the third part of our strategy is this: We're spreading the hope 
of freedom across the broader Middle East. In the long run, the only way 
to defeat the terrorists is by offering an alternative to their ideology 
of hatred and fear. So a key component of our strategy is to spread 
freedom. History has proven that free nations are peaceful nations, that 
democracies do not fight their neighbors. And so, by advancing the cause 
of liberty and freedom in the Middle East, we're bringing hope to 
millions and security to our own citizens. By bringing freedom and hope

[[Page 1303]]

to parts of the world that have lived in despair, we're laying the 
foundation of peace for our children and grandchildren.
    We're using all elements of our national power to achieve our 
objectives: military power, diplomatic power, financial, intelligence, 
and law enforcement. We're fighting the enemy on many fronts, from the 
streets of the Western capitals to the mountains of Afghanistan, to the 
tribal regions of Pakistan, to the islands of Southeast Asia and the 
Horn of Africa. You see, this new kind of war, the first war of the 21st 
century, is a war on a global scale. And to protect our people, we've 
got to prevail in every theater. And that's why it's important for us to 
call upon allies and friends to join with us, and they are.
    One of the most important battlefronts in this war on terror is 
Iraq. Terrorists have converged on Iraq. See, they're coming into Iraq 
because they fear the march of freedom. Their most prominent leader is a 
Jordanian named Zarqawi, who has declared his allegiance with Usama bin 
Laden. The ranks of these folks are filled with foreign fighters who 
come from places like Saudi Arabia and Syria and Iran and Egypt and 
Sudan and Yemen and Libya. They lack popular support so they're 
targeting innocent Iraqis with car bombs and suicide attacks. They know 
the only way they can prevail is to break our will and the will of the 
Iraqi people before democracy takes hold. They are going to fail.
    The stakes in Iraq could not be higher. The brutal violence in Iraq 
today is a clear sign of the terrorists' determination to stop democracy 
from taking root in the Middle East. They know that the success of a 
free Iraq, who can be a key ally in the war on terror and a symbol of 
success for others, will be a crushing blow to their strategy to 
dominate the region and threaten America and the free world. They know 
that when their hateful ideology is defeated in Iraq, the Middle East 
will have a clear example of freedom and prosperity and hope. And the 
terrorists will begin to lose their sponsors and lose their recruits and 
lose the sanctuaries they need to plan new attacks.
    And so they're fighting these efforts in Iraq with all the brutality 
they can muster. Yet, despite the violence we see every day, we're 
achieving our strategic objectives in Iraq. The Iraqi people are 
determined to build a free nation, and we have a plan to help them 
succeed. America and Iraqi forces are on the hunt, side by side, to 
defeat the terrorists. And as we hunt down our common enemies, we will 
continue to train more Iraqi security forces.
    Like free people everywhere, Iraqis desire to defend their own 
country. That's what they want to do. They want to be in a position to 
defend their own freedom and their own democracy. And we're helping to 
achieve that goal. Our approach can be summed up this way: As Iraqis 
stand up, we will stand down. And when the Iraqi forces can defend their 
freedom by taking more and more of the fight to the enemy, our troops 
will come home with the honor they have earned.
    At the same time, we're helping the Iraqi people establish a secure 
democracy. The people of Iraq have made a choice. In spite of the 
threats and assassinations, 8\1/2\ million Iraqis went to the polls in 
January. By casting their ballots in defiance of the terrorists, they 
sent a clear and unmistakable message to the world: It doesn't matter 
where you're born; it doesn't matter what faith you follow; embedded in 
every soul is the deep desire to live in freedom. I understand freedom 
is not America's gift to the world; freedom is an Almighty God's gift to 
each man and woman in this world. The Iraqi people want to live in 
freedom. Part of securing America for our children and grandchildren is 
to help them secure their freedom.
    Members of the Idaho Guard know the Iraqi people's desire for 
liberty because they've seen it up close. Specialist Matt Salisbury is 
with us today. He helped provide security for the election. He described 
seeing an Iraqi family helping an elderly man to the polls vote that 
day. Is it all right if I quote you? [Laughter] ``The pride radiating 
from his face was unmistakable,'' Matt said. ``With one act, he 
recovered his dignity which had been stolen by a tyrant. How can I 
possibly describe the return of hope and dignity that I saw in these 
people's eyes? It is worth the sacrifice of leaving families, jobs, and 
a safe life. I am proud to be a citizen soldier in the 116th Brigade 
Combat Team serving in Iraq. And I'm proud to stand on my watch.''

[[Page 1304]]

    You see, the Iraqi election that Matt witnessed was more than a 
momentary victory for the Iraqi people. It was part of a series of 
defeats for the terrorists. The terrorists have sworn havoc and 
destruction across--sown havoc and destruction across Iraq. Yet the 
violence has not stopped the Iraqi people from building a free Iraq. The 
terrorists failed to stop the transfer of sovereignty. They failed to 
stop Iraqis from running for office and going to the polls. They have 
failed to stop a democratic government from taking power in Iraq. The 
terrorists can kill the innocent, but they cannot stop the political 
process which ultimately will lead to freedom.
    And right now, the Iraqi people are achieving another important 
victory over the terrorists. Despite threats, intimidation, and the 
assassination of some of its members, Iraq's Constitutional Drafting 
Committee has submitted a constitution to Iraq's Transitional National 
Assembly. Iraqi negotiators are now further debating and revising the 
text. The establishment of a democratic constitution will be a landmark 
event in the history of Iraq and the history of the Middle East. It will 
bring us closer to a day when Iraq is a nation that can govern itself, 
sustain itself, and defend itself.
    It will send a clear signal to the people across the Middle East who 
are desperate for freedom that the future belongs to freedom. See, 
producing a constitution is a difficult process. It involves a lot of 
debate and compromise. We know that from our own history. Our 
Constitutional Convention was the home to political rivalries and 
regional disagreements. And the document that our Founders produced in 
Philadelphia was not the final word. After all, it has been amended many 
times over the century.
    Iraqis are now at the beginning of a long process, and like our 
Founders, they're grappling with difficult issues, such as the role of 
the Federal Government. Idaho people have a pretty good view of the role 
of the Federal Government--[laughter]--like, limited. They're arguing 
about the proper place of religion in the life of their nation. And like 
our Founders, they will come up with a system that respects the 
traditions of their country and guarantees the rights of all their 
citizens.
    They understand that in order to have a free democracy, you must 
have minority rights. The will of the majority, coupled with minority 
rights and human dignity and rights for women, is important for a free 
society. They understand that. But what's important is that the Iraqis 
are resolving these issues through debate and discussion, not at the 
barrel of a gun. And we admire their thoughtful deliberations, and we 
salute the determination of the Iraqi leaders to lay the foundation of a 
lasting democracy amid the ruins of a brutal dictatorship.
    The battle lines in Iraq are now clearly drawn for the world to see, 
and there is no middle ground. Transforming a country that was ruled by 
an oppressive dictator who sponsored terror into a free nation that is 
an ally in the war on terror will take more time, more sacrifice, and 
continued resolve. Terrorists will emerge from Iraq one of two ways, 
emboldened or defeated. Every nation--every free nation--has a stake in 
the success of the Iraqi people. If the terrorists were to win in Iraq, 
the free world would be more vulnerable to attacks on innocent 
civilians. And that is why, for the sake of our children and our 
grandchildren, the terrorists will be defeated.
    There will be more difficult moments on the path to victory, yet we 
can have confidence in the future. We have seen freedom conquer evil and 
secure the peace before. In World War II, free nations came together to 
fight the ideology of fascism. Freedom prevailed. And today, the enemies 
of World War II are allies in the cause of peace. In the cold war, 
freedom defeated the ideology of communism and led to a Europe that is 
whole, free, and at peace. Now, once again, freedom is confronting the 
followers of a murderous ideology, and like the hate-filled ideologies 
that came before it, the darkness of terror will be defeated, and the 
forces of freedom and moderation will prevail throughout the Muslim 
world.
    In the end, the terrorists will fail because they have nothing 
positive to offer. The terrorist Zarqawi sums up their appeal this way, 
``Anyone who stands in the way of our struggle is our enemy and target 
of the swords.''

[[Page 1305]]

That's the sum of his grim vision. They're brutal but nothing more. They 
seek to exploit a great religion, but in truth, they are animated by 
nothing but their own lust for power and their desire for dominion over 
others. And while they may sow death and destruction for a time, the 
history of the last half-century is clear: The will to power cannot 
withstand the will to live in freedom.
    We will prevail in this struggle because freedom is the permanent 
hope of mankind and because we have on our side the greatest force for 
freedom in the history of the world, the brave men and women of the 
United States Armed Forces.
    Since the founding of our republic, every generation has produced 
patriots willing to sacrifice for our freedom. Since the morning of 
September the 11th, we have known that the war on terror required great 
sacrifice as well. In this war, we have said farewell to some very good 
men and women, including 491 heroes of the National Guard and Reserves. 
We mourn the loss of every life. We pray for their loved ones. These 
brave men and women gave their lives for a cause that is just and 
necessary for the security of our country, and now we will honor their 
sacrifice by completing their mission.
    The men and women of the Idaho Guard are serving freedom's cause 
with courage and distinction, and your courage is changing the world. 
Specialist Charles Glenn of Boise has been on the frontlines in Iraq. He 
has seen the progress firsthand, and he says, ``I know Idaho has made a 
big difference here. We have been a part of history.'' The citizen 
soldiers of Idaho are making history. You're fighting to ensure that our 
freedom, like the State of Idaho, may endure forever. Americans are 
grateful for your devotion to duty and your courage under fire. We live 
in freedom and peace because of your determination to prevail.
    I want to thank you for your service. May God bless the people of 
this great State. May God bless our troops, and may God continue to 
bless the United States of America.

Note: The President spoke at 11 a.m. in the Idaho Center. In his 
remarks, he referred to Suzanne Craig, wife of Senator Larry Craig; Lt. 
Gen. H. Steven Blum, USA, chief, National Guard Bureau; Maj. Gen. 
Lawrence F. Lafrenz, USA, commanding general, Idaho National Guard; 
Brig. Gen. Gary L. Sayler, USAF, deputy commanding general, Idaho Air 
National Guard; Col. Charles K. Shugg, USAF, commander, 366th Fighter 
Wing; Usama bin Laden, leader of the Al Qaida terrorist organization; 
senior Al Qaida associate Abu Musab Al Zarqawi; and former President 
Saddam Hussein of Iraq. The Office of the Press Secretary also released 
a Spanish language transcript of these remarks.